Mike D’Antoni had a successful debut as the New York Knicks coach, while the Thunder had one to forget in Oklahoma City.
Jamal Crawford scored 29 points, Zach Randolph added 20, and the Knicks beat the Miami Heat 120-115 on Wednesday night in their first game under D’Antoni.
Wilson Chandler had 17 points and nine rebounds, and David Lee and Quentin Richardson each scored 16 points for New York. Relying just as much on solid defense as D’Antoni’s uptempo offense, the Knicks seized control late in the second quarter, opened a 23-point lead in the third, then held on after the Heat got within three points in the final minute.
“I just liked the overall play,” D’Antoni said. “Those last five minutes … we kind of shut it down. We can’t do that. We’re not that good to be able to do that.”
The Thunder had huge pregame festivities, but once the ball was tipped off the celebration quickly ended.
The Bucks were in control from the start, taking their first double-digit lead by the midway point of the first quarter, and they gave the 19,136 in attendance little to cheer about until it was too late, holding on for a 98-87 victory.
hought, caused our slow start offensively,” Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “We didn’t play like we were capable of playing and that is a shame.”
In other NBA games, it was New Jersey 95, Washington 85; Atlanta 99, Orlando 85; Toronto 95, Philadelphia 84; Minnesota 98, Sacramento 96; Phoenix 103, San Antonio 98; Detroit 100, Indiana 94; Houston 82, Memphis 71; Utah 98, Denver 84; Los Angeles Lakers 117, Los Angeles Clippers 79; and New Orleans 108, Golden State 103.
At Oklahoma City, Michael Redd, Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva each scored 20 points and the Bucks spoiled the Thunder’s debut.
Playing their opener after moving from Seattle in the offseason, the Thunder made it interesting by cutting a 24-point deficit to 11 in the fourth quarter.
The late rally gave a sellout crowd of 19,136 something to cheer about after a miserable start by the Thunder.
Chris Wilcox led Oklahoma City with 15 points off the bench, first-round pick Russell Westbrook scored 13 in his debut and Kevin Durant finished with 12 on 5-for-14 shooting.
“The atmosphere was definitely great,” Wilcox said. “We had a lot of fans here, fan support, and I think if we get that night in and night out, a lot of games that we struggle, down the stretch we will come out with.”
Nets 95, Wizards 85
ory over a Wizards team missing Gilbert Arenas.
Carter made a 16-foot fadeaway jumper over Caron Butler to put the visitors ahead 90-82 with a minute left and effectively settle a back-and-forth game.
Carter had plenty of help, with 17 points from Yi Jianlian and 14 from Jarvis Hayes.
Six Wizards scored in double-figures, led by Jamison and DeShawn Stevenson with 14 apiece.
Hawks 99, Magic 85
At Orlando, Fla., Joe Johnson scored 25 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, to help the Hawks hold off a late Magic rally.
Dwight Howard had 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Magic, who lost their home opener for only the second time in the last nine seasons. Mickael Pietrus added 20 points.
Josh Smith chipped in 17 for the Hawks, who held the Magic to 37 percent shooting.
Raptors 95, 76ers 84
At Philadelphia, Chris Bosh had 27 points and 11 rebounds to help the Raptors beat the 76ers. Jermaine O’Neal added 17 and Jason Kapono had 15.
Lou Williams scored 16 points, Andre Iguodala added 15, Elton Brand had 14 points and 13 rebounds in his Sixers debut, and Samuel Dalembert pulled down 17 rebounds.
Timberwolves 98, Kings 96
At Minneapolis, Rookie Kevin Love made an impressive debut with 12 points and nine rebounds, and Al Jefferson had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Timberwolves to a victory over the rebuilding Kings.
s scored 21 of his 24 points in the second half and rookie Jason Thompson had 18 points and 10 boards for the Kings. Spencer Hawes had 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Suns 103, Spurs 98
At San Antonio, Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points and four other Phoenix players scored in double figures to help give Terry Porter a victory in his coaching debut.
Tim Duncan and Tony Parker each scored 32 points for the Spurs, who were playing without guard Manu Ginobili, out until December after ankle surgery.
Pistons 100, Pacers 94
At Auburn Hills, Mich., Tayshaun Prince scored 19 points as part of a balanced attack to give new Pistons coach Michael Curry a win over the Pacers in the opener for both teams.
Danny Granger led the new-look Pacers with 33 points and got some help from new teammates T.J. Ford, Jarrett Jack and Rasho Nesterovic.
Chauncey Billups had 13 points and seven assists, Richard Hamilton scored 15 and Rasheed Wallace added nine points and seven rebounds for the Pistons. Walter Hermann had 10 points, helping the Pistons’ bench outscore Indiana’s reserves 38-18.
Rockets 82, Grizzlies 71
At Houston, Yao Ming had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Ron Artest added 16 points in his debut and the Rockets overcame poor shooting to beat the Grizzlies.
t 5-for-16 from 3-point range and were outrebounded 49-44.
Rudy Gay scored 20 and Darrell Arthur had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who’ve lost all eight season openers since moving to Memphis in 2001.
Jazz 98, Nuggets 94
At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 25 points and 14 rebounds, Andrei Kirilenko added 16 points in his new reserve role and the Jazz opened the season with a win.
Mehmet Okur had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Ronnie Price finished with five assists starting in place of Deron Williams, who is out with a sprained ankle.
Allen Iverson had 18 points and eight assists to lead the Nuggets, who were missing star Carmelo Anthony while he served the first of a two-game suspension from a DUI arrest.
Lakers 117, Clippers 79
At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant had 16 points and eight rebounds, Andrew Bynum added 12 points and nine rebounds, and the Lakers spoiled the Clippers season opener.
The Lakers began their season with a similar blowout a night earlier, breezing to a 96-76 win at home against Portland.
Baron Davis had 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting in his Clippers’ debut, with seven assists. Al Thornton scored 16, and Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas each had 11.
Hornets 108, Warriors 103
At Oakland, Calif., Chris Paul drove for the go-ahead layup with 19.4 seconds left and finished with 21 points and 11 assists for the Hornets.
After going 7-0 in the NBA’s first unbeaten preseason in six years, New Orleans stayed perfect despite falling apart down the stretch. After Paul’s jumper gave the Hornets a six-point lead with 5:47 left, they went nearly four minutes between points while the Warriors went ahead 101-100 on a jumper by Corey Maggette, who had 27 points in his Golden State debut.
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